The Elders Project

In January 2023 I began a series of interviews with people of all ages, all genders, all across the world.

The purpose?

I wanted to know what people knew, or thought, about eldership.

Some knew nothing, not even the word ‘elder’, others had grown up with the idea of eldership hardwired into their consciousness.

To start with I was just doing qualitative research for a new book on eldership under the working title of Recovering Eldership.

What I found were such interesting conversations that enriched my thinking about all aspects of this vital subject.

So I have just kept on going!

If you are interested in being interviewed in this ongoing project then just email me at trevor@trevorwaldock.net and I’ll be in touch.

All you need is to be willing. You don’t have to prepare. You don’t need to know the first thing about eldership.

Most conversations are held on zoom, or in person. If you are happy for me to record the conversation so I can transcribe later, then great. If not, then I wont.

Some people like to have some idea what the conversation will cover and so the questions that we navigate our way around are:-

Questions for interviews

1.     Understanding: What does the word elder/eldership mean to you personally? What is your understanding of elders and eldership?

2.    Experience: What is your experience of elders?

a.     Do you/have you had any elders in your life?

b.     What did they do?

c.     How did they do it?

d.     What was their backstory that equipped them to do it? 

3.     Relevance: Do you see elders having any relevance for society today and if so what & how?

4.     Intergenerational: How do you think we can create channels for elders to connect with youth?

5.     Becoming: How do you think we could help youth aspire to eldership as a key aim in their future?

6.     Ageing: How can we recover eldership as a key part of our mental model of aging across the life span (as opposed to a retirement focused model) and how can we inspire ageing people to re-evaluate their ageing so as to be net contributors to society?

7.     Offering: How could elders best offer their wisdom into today world?

8.     Older or elder: Why do you think many people get older but they don’t become elders?